Item of the Week: Bausch and Lomb AT WAR

If you are one of the 125 million people in the world who wear contact lenses, you may recognize the brand name “Bausch and Lomb” from your bottle of contact solution. However, in the 1940s you were more likely to see the company’s logo plastered on pamphlets highlighting their vast contributions to the war effort. The Jean Outland Chrysler Library is delighted to possess one of these pamphlets entitled: “Bausch and Lomb AT WAR.”
Long before contacts were invented, Bausch and Lomb specialized in such military wonders as searchlight mirrors, telescopes, and aviator goggles. They even built a new Glass Plant to provide desperately needed optical glass to American troops. In order to advertise these and many other achievements, they created pamphlets that not only captured the spirit of a nation at war, but emphasized the value of the American worker. Through vivid colors, photography and highly evocative language,
the pamphlet portrays Bausch and Lomb
as a corporate hero, ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the American way. The cover of the pamphlet features a hand-drawn Bausch and Lomb logo, jabbed into a star-spangled sky by a silver dagger. Underneath the logo is a shadowy clock tower. The symbols of the clock and the dagger emphasize the timeliness of the war and the company’s involvement. They also allude to Bausch and Lomb’s elaborate history of military service; a crucial part of the company’s hero narrative. Despite such obvious sentimentality and tendency toward propaganda, the Bausch and Lomb pamphlet presents a truly unique view of American history. It is sobering to think about where we would be without the clarity of site. Perhaps it is fitting then to look back at our nation’s “Greatest War” through the lens of an eye-wear corporation. In an era of contact lenses and multipurpose saline solution, maybe it is better to dust off our binoculars and take a deep look into our past. Maybe then we can get a better glimpse of the future.

- Library volunteer Jessica Ritchie

Cataloging Fellowship

The Jean Outland Chrysler Library seeks a graduate, or recently graduated library and information science student interested in career as a cataloger in archives or libraries. Qualified applicants will:

• Be current graduate students in good standing in a library science, information studies, preservation, archives or related program
• Have experience in technical services and cataloging or have significant coursework in relevant areas.
• Have knowledge of MARC, LCSH, AACR2, and DDC.
• Have familiarity with art history research materials.
• Have good computer skills and familiarity with searching bibliographic databases.
• Be detail oriented, organized and flexible with the ability to work independently.

Cataloging Fellows will have the opportunity to work on a variety of cataloging and technical services projects. Responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the acquisitions workflow including accession records, physical processing and tracking of materials prior to cataloging.
• Copy, derived, or original cataloging; Fellows will assist with cataloging materials in various formats including books, periodicals, archives, etc.
• Some work with other formats including serials and audio-visual materials. · Technical processing of library materials
• Introductory cataloging of rare books and unique materials.
• Regular reports of project progress and participation in Library outreach activities including presentations to the public.
• Some reaching and lifting may be required.

Applicants must commit to 10 consecutive weeks of employment. Fellows will receive a stipend of $5,000 to be used for housing, travel and other expenses. The stipend will be divided into three payments: one upon starting, the second halfway through and the third upon completion of the internship.

To apply, candidates should submit: a letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or work supervisor, a cover letter, and a resume. Cover letters should highlight previous employment, coursework, and/or other qualifications.


Applications may be sent via e-mail (lchristiansen@chrysler.org) or mail to:

The Jean Outland Chrysler Library
245 West Olney Rd.
Norfolk, VA 23510

Only those applicants who are chosen for possible placement will be contacted within two weeks of the respective application deadline to arrange for an interview.

Norfolk’s Love of Flowers

Though primarily known for the art reference collection, the Jean Outland Museum Library is a wonderful source for local Norfolk history. The archives contain city information from various agencies, including the city council, chamber of commerce and merchants association. The combination of these agencies exhibits a comprehensive view of Norfolk from the late nineteenth century until today. One common theme that emerges from the Chrysler archives is Norfolk’s residents’ preoccupation with gardening. Azaleas and camellias have been the historical favorites of green-thumbs all over the Tidewater region; the Norfolk Botanical Garden was once called “Azalea Gardens.” The American Camellia Society held its national meeting in Norfolk in 1952, and the two-day event culminated with the Norfolk Camellia Show. A coup for both Norfolk and Virginia Beach (the Cavalier Hotel was official convention lodgings); this three thousand-member society brought tourism revenue into Tidewater and raised the profile of Norfolk as a horticulturists’ dream. The event’s program attempted to dispel any reservations attendees would have about celebrating these delicate flowers in Virginia’s harsh conditions, stating “An analysis of our climate and soil reveals, however, not only is it adequate to the growth of camellias, but nears the ideal for their development.” Norfolk was thereby thought of as a gardening paradise, and continued to host various horticultural events. Historic Garden Week in Virginia, a celebration of Tidewater’s most notable gardens is now in its seventy-six year, and will be held from April 18-25, 2009.

- Meagan Jones, Library Intern

All Fired Up: Glass Science and Processes

As Art of Glass 2 approaches, Hampton Roads prepares for a massive influx of glass and glass artists. The Chrysler Museum of Art is poised to dazzle patrons with works by Katherine Gray, Stephen Knapp, Karen LeMonte, Beth Lipman, Lino Tagliapietra and many others. These masters of glass have honed their skills to create precise and breath-taking works of art. As part of the exhibition the Education department will be offering programs highlighting the intersection of science and art in glass blowing. Interested in learning more? The Jean Outland Chrysler Library is showcasing a section of books dedicated to glass making, the science of glass, glass processes and history. These selections include such works as Beginning Glassblowing and Advanced Glassworking Techniques by Edward T. Schmid, The Structure of Glass by Roy Newton and Sandra Davison, Glass: A World History by Alan MacFarlane and Gerry Martin, Volume 15 of L’Encyclopedie by Diderot and D’Alembert and Glassblowing: A Search for Form by Harvey K. Littleton.

- S. M.

Interesting Facts on the History of the Library you may not know!

In 1901, educator Annie Wood founded the Irene Leache Library to honor her friend and fellow teacher and began to display rare books. The books were moved to the newly-constructed Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, created through the efforts of the Norfolk Society of Arts, in 1933. In 1971 Walter P. Chrysler Jr. and his wife, Jean, came to the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences and renamed it the Chrysler Museum of Art, bringing with them not only a well-rounded collection of art but a large library. The library had been previously stored in the basement of the original Chrysler Museum structure, a converted Methodist Church in Provincetown, Mass. In 1977 the 140-year-old, 60,000 volume Knoedler Library was purchased for the museum, and added major art reference books and extremely rare annotated sales catalogues to the collection. The library collection's expansion needed $150,000 to create a suitable space. Fundraisers were planned, and a grant appeal was made to the National Endowment for the Arts. In the interim before the completion of the library, the collection was stored in the Norfolk school administration building and functioned under the care of Mrs. Chrysler. The 6,000 square foot library was named for Mrs. Chrysler as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library and opened within the walls of the Chrysler Museum on April 4, 1989. Over the years the collection has continued to grow and now contains 106,896 volumes!

Welcome the Jean Outland Chrysler Library Blog!

Welcome to the inaugural post of the Jean Outland Chrysler Library Blog! This blog will provide information about Library events and activities, new additions to the Library collections, and highlight items that you can find in the Library. We hope that you will enjoy reading about the Library and will offer suggestions about what you would like to see here. What would you like to know about the Library?